Help with travel costs to and from chemotherapy

Hannimal

Are there any schemes to support with travel costs to and from chemo if you’re not already on benefits? 

Sadly I find myself in a situation where I am starting chemo next month and I live alone and will need to cope with all this all alone. I have a reasonable income but nurse told me not to take buses back from chemo and instead use a taxi or get a lift from a friend. I haven’t got a friend to rely on on this. Is there any financial help available? Thanks 

elsien

Sibling is in a similar situation and is using Uber.
They were not able to find any financial support.

marcia_

Hannimal said:

Are there any schemes to support with travel costs to and from chemo if you’re not already on benefits? 

Sadly I find myself in a situation where I am starting chemo next month and I live alone and will need to cope with all this all alone. I have a reasonable income but nurse told me not to take buses back from chemo and instead use a taxi or get a lift from a friend. I haven’t got a friend to rely on on this. Is there any financial help available? Thanks 

 Have a look on the hospital website to check their policy on travel expenses 

comeandgo

In our community we have a charity that supplies transport for hospital patients, there may be something similar in your local area?

Flugelhorn

there are sometimes local community volunteer drivers for which you pay expenses - they may be happy to help particularly if it is a regular trip 

DiamondLil

Macmillan might have useful info. ?

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support

BrilliantButScary

https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/impacts-of-cancer/benefits-and-financial-support/help-with-transport-and-parking

They also have a helpline and forums, which might help with you feeling less alone. Macmillan also often have a presence at the hospital, if you prefer to speak to someone in person.

p00hsticks

I'm sorry to hear this.

Was the nurse your assigned CSN (Cancer Specialist nurse) ? If so contact her again and ask if there is any possibility of getting hospital transport provided for your appointments - I'm currently undergoing daily radiotherapy and was offered it as I don't drive and they said I shouldn't be using public transport, and I live over 30 miles from the hospital. I guess the approach many vary from trust to trust and area to area.

I'll join those recommending the Macmillan website - if you sign up to the Online Community there you'll find a forum for your particular type of cancer where you can find people who have been or are going through a similar experience to you, and you can also phone or have an online chat with one of their professional support people. 

twopenny

Yes we have something like that where people volunteer to drive people to hospital. They get some recompense and it's a reasonable charge.
It's limited to certain conditions which I've never got to grips with but the information initially comes from reception at the doctor's surgery.
It might also be worth asking if any taxi drivers do a special rate. We had on, only one, who charged a bit less.

All the best with the treatment and hope the transport works well.

Grumpy_chap

There are volunteer driver groups in many areas.

Some areas (Councils) also have a scheme where subsidised taxis can be available - there will be eligibility criteria which may vary from Council to Council.

elsien

Sibling has also found that part of the problem with chemo is that he doesn’t  know what time he’s going to be ready to go home.
Last time he should’ve been there for two hours and it was closer to six. It’s hard to plan transport around that if you are relying on other people.